However, Axel, who left the embarrassment to Khalid, nonchalantly mumbled, ‘I can learn the name later,’ and stroked his chin with one hand.

“Where is the child’s father?”

“You’re not going to drag me away if I don’t answer, are you?”

“Just say it’s for the candy.”

“That’s called extortion, Your Highness.”

The golden carriage carrying the four of them was crossing the Wothering Bridge, passing through the shopping district.

Wothering Bridge was the busiest bridge in the capital, Ludvig, and a major tourist attraction. Recently, it had been filled with foreigners, judging by their exotic attire.

Theo, fascinated by the foreigners he had never seen before, couldn’t stay still, lifting his hips and stretching his neck to look out the window.

Hailey was relieved that Theo was so engrossed in the outside view.

“Is the father perhaps—”

“I don’t know. I don’t know. You’re really persistent.”

Saying she didn’t know the father. Did she realize how strange that sounded?

Of course, Axel didn’t care if she had lived a promiscuous life to the point of not knowing whose child it was. As long as she played the role for a year, it didn’t matter what kind of woman she was.

“Then do you have any plans to get married?”

“Are you interested in me?”

“Does it look that way? You could say that.”

‘He’s crazy.’

Hailey barely held back from swearing out loud.

Theo was right next to her, and no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t curse at the prince’s face.

Hailey hadn’t given a single kind answer, but Axel had gathered all the information he needed.

She didn’t know the child’s father and didn’t seem to have any plans to find him soon. She also didn’t seem interested in marriage at all.

The only person she seemed to care about was the little boy.

Perfect.

Axel thought to himself.

“Lady, no, Miss Hailey.”

Suddenly using a respectful term, Hailey, who had been focused on Theo’s small, fidgeting bottom, turned her gaze to Axel.

“Let’s get to the point.”

Khalid, who had been sitting uncomfortably next to Axel, tried to intervene, saying, ‘Your Highness, you’re too hasty,’ but Axel ignored him.

Instead, with a confident look, he leaned slightly forward to meet Hailey’s eyes.

“I want you.”

“……”

“To live with me as my wife for just one year.”

Oh my God.

Khalid sighed deeply and watched Hailey’s reaction.

Hailey, without saying a word, blinked and carefully examined the handsome man’s face that filled her vision.

“Of course, on the condition that you bring the child with you.”

“…….”

“And after a year, if you agree to a peaceful divorce, I will compensate you generously.”

“…….”

“I’ve been looking for a woman just like you. You’re the perfect ideal I’ve dreamed of.”

It wasn’t a lie. For Axel, there was no better woman than her right now.

A perfectly drawn fake wife and a fake child.

If the bold little boy and the woman who didn’t lose to him in a single word could win over that strict old man’s heart, it would be perfect.

‘It’s such a tempting offer, she must be thrilled.’

“……Crazy.”

Axel couldn’t quite hear Hailey’s response.

He was about to ask her to repeat it, but Hailey kindly repeated it clearly.

“Madman.”

“…….”

“Stop the carriage! Stop it right now!”

Screech—

Since Hailey wasn’t the type to wait for an escort, as soon as the carriage stopped, she opened the door herself, hugged the child, and got out of the carriage.

‘Did she just curse at me?’

Prince Axel, who had never been rejected by a woman in his life, stuck his head out of the carriage and stared at Hailey’s back as she walked away.

Somehow, Hailey turned around and looked at the golden carriage.

‘She must be regretting missing out on my proposal.’

The woman struggled to lift a finger while holding the child. Specifically, her middle finger.

‘What does that mean?’

Not knowing that the gesture was an insult in another world, Axel watched in confusion as Hailey ran away frantically with Theo.

* * *

Queen Madelaine, the most noble woman in Zenovia, was deeply troubled this year, almost wondering if she was possessed by an evil spirit.

A few months ago, she was caught up in an unprecedented scandal of unknown origin, and her only son committed an irreparable blunder.

Her insomnia worsened by the day, leaving her perpetually exhausted.

Lately, she often reflected on the day she became queen.

Originally, Madelaine had no intention of becoming queen. She only planned to inherit the Grand Duchy of Winchester.

But due to an old agreement between the Grand Duchy and the royal family, she ended up like this.

A long time ago, there was an agreement between the Otter royal family and Winchester.

The agreement was to marry a daughter of Winchester to a son of Otter, in exchange for recognizing significant autonomy for Winchester and keeping Winchester out of capital politics.

However, Winchester was a family blessed with few children, and even when one was born, it was always a boy.

Using the long-unfulfilled agreement as an excuse, the then-king attempted to reclaim some of Winchester’s autonomy, forcing Madelaine to step in. There was no telling when another girl might be born after her.

Ultimately, Madelaine had to become queen for the sake of her beloved Winchester.

“Your Majesty, Princess Anais has come to visit.”

“Let her in.”

The marriage between the king and queen was more of a political partnership than a love match.

The king respected the queen and made an unbreakable vow to forever recognize Winchester’s autonomy.

And the king took his long-time lover as a concubine.

In truth, Madelaine had planned to divorce and return to Winchester at an appropriate time.

But contrary to her wishes, she gave birth to a son before the concubine, who died giving birth to a daughter.

As a result, the divorce was completely off the table, and Madelaine remained queen, raising both her son and the concubine’s daughter.

“You skipped another meal, I hear.”

“That boy caused trouble again… Just when I was starting to get my appetite back, it vanished.”

“They say he broke the count’s wrist? The nobles collectively protested at today’s meeting. Of course, your brother didn’t even attend.”

Hearing this, the queen placed a hand on her forehead as if she had another headache.

Seeing this, Anais called for a maid to bring chamomile tea, known for its calming effects.

“By the way, I heard something strange. Is it true that you sent invitations to all the unmarried noble ladies in the country?”

“It’s true. You should prepare as well. It will be the biggest ball of the year.”

“…Are you really going along with my brother’s ridiculous plan?”

“What choice do I have at this point?”

Once Axel made up his mind, there was no stopping him. Anais shook her head, thinking of her brother.

The queen sipped the chamomile tea brought by the maid and looked at the demure and calm Anais.

“If I had known it would come to this, I would have made you the first in line for the throne by any means necessary.”

“…Do you really think my brother will never return to the capital?”

To Anais, Axel was ‘the most inscrutable person in the world.’

She thought his recent escapade was just another whim. She believed Axel would return to the palace from Winchester in less than a year.

Axel’s promises to give her his position and become a good ruler meant nothing to her.

Zenovia’s first queen.

The nobles would never allow it. The position would vanish if Axel expressed any intention of returning.

“Are you saying you can’t hold onto your position if he comes back?”

Anais didn’t answer immediately.

It wasn’t that she lacked confidence. She just didn’t have the ambition.

It would be a lie to say she had no desire for the throne.

Though it seemed impossible, she had always tried to contribute to Zenovia as a member of the royal family.

She didn’t have the desire to take a position that clearly belonged to someone else, but unexpectedly, the opportunity had come.

Anais wasn’t foolish enough to miss the position right in front of her.

“No. I will make it my position. However…”

To Anais, Queen Madelaine was like a mother.

Madelaine had raised the concubine’s daughter as her own child.

She provided equal educational opportunities, scolded them equally when they fought, and praised them equally when they did well.

To Anais, Queen Madelaine was a hero and the person she respected most in the world.

“Do you believe I will be a good queen?”

“Anais, if I didn’t believe in you, I would have prevented Axel from even setting foot in Winchester.”

“…….”

“Of course, I believe in you.”

Anais was momentarily speechless with emotion.

She was going to be the queen now, and she couldn’t show tears.

“You may not be able to subdue them with force like Axel. But you are a smart girl. Even if they underestimate and look down on you as a queen, slowly tighten the noose around their necks without them noticing.”